Cope.] ^^^-' [Marcli 4, 



In. Linos. , 



Transverse diameter periotic bulla 5 8.7 



Longitudinal 4 9. .T 



Vertical 3 1.5 



Lengtli external pei-iotic process 1 9.5 



" posterior " " 2 2 



Length centrum anterior lumbar No. 1 10.75 



Vertical and transverse diameter do. eacli 12 



"Width neural canal 5 



Length diapophysis 17 



Width do. at base 7 



" " " middle (! 



Length centrum lumbar ISTo. 2 10. 5 



Both diameters of articular face 13. 



Widthneiu-al canal 5.5 



' ' antero-posterior neural si^ine 5. 



Length centrum of a caudal 6.5 



Diameter artici\lar face, (vertical) 14. 



" " (transverse) 14 



' ' neural canal 1.5 



' ' inter-chevron groove 3 



As comi^ared with the described species, the characters of the Mesoteras 

 kerrianus are well marked. Thus the ear bone is totally different from 

 that of Eschrichtius cephalus and E. mysticetoides {Balana Emmons, 

 Leidy), and the mandibular ramus is not flattened above, as in E. priscus 

 and E. exi^ansus. The paucity or absence of external foramina distinguish 

 it from the E. x3olyporus. Finally, E. le^jtocentrus presents generic char- 

 acters in its known cervical vertebrae which will not probably be found in 

 the present whale. Though these vertebrae of Mesoteras have not yet 

 been found, I anticipate that they will present more nearly the characters 

 of the genus Baltena, in accordance with the remainder of the structure. 

 Perhaps they will be like those of Palsecetus of Seeley, and llie two gen- 

 era may be found to be the same. 



It has been known to geologists and others for some time, that a skele- 

 ton of some kind had been exposed by the erosive action of the waters of 

 a creek in Eastern North Carolina, and was to be seen lying in its bed 

 diagonally across it. The writer recently visited the spot, and found the 

 stream to be some fifty feet in width, containing water of from three to 

 live feet in depth. The direction and extent of the skeleton was indicated 

 by the proprietor, Jesse W. Parker, since the water concealed it from 

 view. It would appear to extend very nearly across the creek, and have 

 a length of 60 to 70 feet. Some of the vertebrge could be distinguished by 

 feeling with a rod. When the waters are low towards the end of the sum- 

 ]ner, its length is exposed, and it can be used as a foot log by the traveller. 

 On the bank near this skeleton were found portions of tlie skeleton of an 

 adult firmer whale of some thirty feet in length. 



Prof. Kerr, Director of the survey, succeeded in obtaining one or two of 



